Bloomington officials are adding police patrols and crafting an outreach program to address problems with vandalism, panhandling and public intoxication downtown.

Mayor Mark Kruzan tells The Herald-Times that police will add patrols along the B-Line Trail and in the area around Kirkwood Avenue, the city square and the Monroe County Courthouse. The plan also calls for installing surveillance cameras on public properties and having officers work with social service agencies and refer people for help instead of arresting them when appropriate.

The patrols will cost the city about $6,000 a month in overtime. That will be paid with parking meter revenue.

Kruzan says the goal is to improve the behavior and conduct of people downtown.